A recent article written by the local press in Austin Texas: Georgia Napolitano has never had a problem finding a voice for the world. The 17-year-old former Westlake High School student was born to sing. She won the Spanish Pop Idol competition when she was 10, and she’s performed live gigs since she was 12. Blender Magazine has already run a feature on her. At 15, she performed the national anthem at Fenway Park in front of 40,000 baseball fans. She’s recorded original songs at the legendary Mayfair studios in London. In March this year (09), the British-born teen performed live with her band, Georgia and the Boys, at SXSW in Austin Texas. In May she won the Austin School for Performing and Visual Arts Youthcast Competition. In June, she was chosen for the American Idol competition in Austin. In August , she won the Fame Talent Search semifinals, pushing her into the finals competition in Los Angeles on Sept. 5. With blond hair, huge brown eyes and a deep, bluesy voice, Napolitano seems poised to conquer the pop world. The girl’s got pipes. This year, Napolitano is using her voice to speak for those who can’t, the world’s increasing population of autistic children. On Sept. 12, TEENS4AUTISM will take over the Austin Music Hall, offering up the prodigious talents of eight local teen bands. Napolitano uncovered a passion for helping autistic children and their families after attending a luncheon put on by local Thoughtful House, an organization that works to recover children with disorders like autism. During the luncheon, she listened to heartbreaking stories told by the parents of children with autism; she watched a video documenting the terrible struggles of children unable to verbalize their agony. “It is so sad, because they are in great pain, but they can’t tell you why,” Napolitano said. “You want to know why. You want to do something, anything you can to help.” After the luncheon, Napolitano organized TEENS4AUTISM, pulling together local talent for a concert to raise money for Thoughtful House. With the help of her mother, Tina Napolitano, she set up a Web site and began talking to other young performers about joining the cause. The rising pop star thinks it is important to engage young people in passionate causes. “If kids are involved in giving back to others, it helps them realize how blessed they are in their own lives; their problems are put into perspective,” she said. “It is important for everyone to get behind causes they believe in, but I honestly believe that the words coming from children and the young are really strong. When a kid stands up and says, ‘This is wrong and needs to change,’ it is really, really powerful.” Napolitano is no novice to charity work or the fight to make a better world for the innocent. Last year, she dedicated one of her original songs, “Make a Change,” to the Glimmer of Hope Foundation. Proceeds from the song will fund 50 water wells for children in Ethiopia. Through ticket sales, donations and a silent auction, Napolitano hopes to raise $10,000 for Thoughtful House with the September TEENS4AUTISM concert. She also hopes press coverage of the event raises awareness of the Thoughtful House organization. “Autism is such a huge thing in the world today, and people don’t really notice it,” Napolitano said. “Thoughtful House is really incredible, it is helping change lives – save lives. I want more people to support them.” Does the talented and idealistic singer believe that one person – one voice - can change the world? “I don’t think one person alone can change the world,” she said. “But one person can say something that a lot of people can hear, and they, together, can change the world. One person can have the message. It takes a lot of people following that message to affect real change.”